Greene County Conservation District recognizes efforts at annual awards ceremony
Curt Hughes received the special recognition award for excellence of agriculture education at the Greene County Conservation District’s annual awards ceremony. Hughes, right, is pictured with district treasurer Thomas Headlee.
Rick and Annette Thistlethwaite of Thistlethwaite Vineyards received the special recognition award for agriculture excellence at the Greene County Conservation District’s annual awards ceremony.
MaKayla Henary of Mt. Morris received the conservation speaking award at the Greene County Conservation District’s annual awards ceremony.
Mike Simms, Waynesburg Borough manager, accepted the special recognition award for urban forestry on behalf of Waynesburg Borough at the Greene County Conservation District’s annual awards ceremony.
Dominick Barbetta, Morgan Township supervisor, accepted the dirt, gravel and low-volume road program municipality of the year award on behalf of Morgan Township.
Greene County Conservation District honored individuals, landowners and government bodies for their outstanding commitment to soil and water conservation during its annual awards ceremony Dec. 13 at Thistlethwaite Vineyards in Jefferson.
Honorees included the following:
• Rick and Annette Thistlethwaite of Thistlethwaite Vineyard, recipients of the special recognition award for agriculture excellence;
• Waynesburg Borough Council and staff, special recognition for urban forestry;
• Morgan Township, dirt, gravel and low-volume road program municipality of the year;
• Curt Hughes, special recognition award for excellence of agriculture education;
• MaKayla Henary, conservation speaking award
The Thistlethwaites were recognized for their role in Greene County agribusiness and for the success of their award-winning winery. Thistlethwaite Vineyard has the distinction of being the county’s first vineyard.
The Thistlethwaites were recognized for their farming and business success and for the non-traditional use they have made of their farm. Their hard work, perseverance and forward thinking have led to the success of the winery.
Waynesburg Borough Council and staff were recognized for their care and management of The Commons, the system of parks on the borough’s north side.
For the last 28 years, the borough has planted more than 200 trees that has allowed the parks to remain a place of recreation and scenic beauty for county residents.
Morgan Township was recognized for enhancing municipal roads with environmentally-sensitive maintenance practices developed by the Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads.
Since 2011, the township has improved Beagle Club Road near Stoney Point by installed 14 cross drains and two stream crossings and by applying 2,587 tons of road aggregate and a sealant to a one-mile section of the road.
The township supervisors have worked diligently to complete these projects in a timely manner and worked closely with the conservation district to improve their road system.
The conservation district also recognizes those dedicated to teaching local students about agricultural sciences.
Curt Hughes, an agriculture science teacher at West Greene High School, was recognized for his commitment to the agriculture community through his years of teaching youth about the importance of agriculture sciences.
During his 29-year career, Hughes’ dedication to local students in the West Greene FFA program, high school and other youth agricultural organizations is an inspiration to both young and old. Current and past students have become the new voices for the agricultural community and environment.
MaKayla Henary, a 2016 graduate of Waynesburg Central High and a freshman at West Virginia University, was recognized for her outstanding speaking skills and for placing first at the county speaking contest.
Henary went on to place seventh in the regional competitions at the state FFA Conservation Speaking Contest at the Pennsylvania FFA State Convention. Henary is the daughter of Jim and Kim Henary of Mt. Morris and is pursuing a degree in energy land management.